The basic trainer KT-1 is the first mass-produced military aircraft successfully developed with the aims of replacing the Korean Air Force’s old intermediate-level training aircraft (T-37) and penetrating the global trainer market. Led by the Agency for Defense Development, the KT-1 development project has become a foundation enabling the domestic development of airborne vehicle systems such as helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) as well as advanced trainers with inducing the participation of domestic aviation businesses, revitalizing the aviation industry, and building a base for aircraft development.

The KT-1 is capable of formation flight, night flight, instrument flight, low/medium altitude navigation flight, and maneuvering flight together with superior flight stability and takeoff/landing capability, with spin entry and recovery operation being particularly easy. Therefore, it is suitable for training rookie pilots and easy to link to advanced training.

As the KT-1 aircraft becomes known for its excellence, it is being exported to Turkey, Peru, and Senegal after beginning with Indonesia.

The tactical control aircraft KA-1 has also been developed as a derivative variant of the KT-1 to perform forward air control and tactical support missions that involve delivering target locations and states to forces and the extent of BDA(Bomb Damage Assessment).